Manchester City vs Burnley: Haaland equals Drogba’s Premier League record with brace

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland scored two goals for the Cityzens against Burnley to get their title defence off to a perfect start with a 3-0 win. 

The Norwegian, who scored 36 goals in the Premier League last season, kicked off the new season with a brace as the Cityzens started the 2023/24 season in a similar fashion to last season. 

The similarities between their start to the current season and their start to the 2022/23 season go beyond just the three points, as Haaland also scored a brace in last season’s opening game, a 2-0 win over West Ham. 

Haaland’s pair of braces to start the season for Manchester City sees him reach a unique Premier League milestone previously held solely by Didier Drogba. 

The 23-year-old striker’s second successive season-opening brace means that only he and Drogba have opened consecutive campaigns for their teams with at least two goals in Premier League history. 

Drogba achieved the feat by scoring a brace against Hull in the 2009/10 season and netting a hattrick in the opening game of the next season against West Brom. 

Haaland will be hoping to keep up with his start to the season as he aims to replicate his sensational debut season with Manchester City.